My husband and I often discuss the lack of true open-mindedness in our society and how it has radically limited advancement and growth in every area of our lives and culture. When you look at great discoveries of the past, they come from individuals who are not convinced that the science of their day has it all figured out. They veer from the logical path and question the status quo. They risk mockery and judgment and step away from the strongly held beliefs of their society. They are open to something different and something new -- something that opposes the "truth of the time."

Open-Mindedness Precedes GrowthIt's always sad to hear someone quickly dismiss an idea or a theory without ever giving it an opportunity to breathe. Immediate dismissal is the mark of the narrow mind -- even if the idea flies in the face of logic, reason and science -- and it is a definite sign of stagnated growth.

We have a tendency to believe that our way is the best way -- the only way -- and that anyone who believes differently is a bumbling fool who has not yet been enlightened. We don't consider that we could be the bumbling fools. We look back to our past and see our ancestors as ignorant and uncivilized. We never stop to consider that our so-called advancements could lead to our ultimate downfall and perhaps our ancestors understood something that we don't.

We have laws of physics on this earth; however, history has shown us that those "laws" can be wrong. Without questioning standard beliefs -- without realizing the science of our day may be flawed -- we cannot grow.

Without open-mindedness, the world may still be regarded as flat. Without open-mindedness, we wouldn't know that time is relative. Without open-mindedness, we may never have had the advances of alternating current (thank you, Tesla, for your radical open-mindedness).

So open-mindedness is necessary for growth and new discoveries. True open-mindedness does not quickly dismiss the impossible, the ridiculous, the illogical, the "pseudoscience" -- because true open-mindedness is OPEN to possibility and new truth and is willing to admit that it may be wrong. The quick dismissal is the mark of the narrow-minded -- no matter how open minded they believe they are.

So what does all this have to do with natural health?

We live in a world that mocks natural healing methods. It flies in the face of what we are told is true and absolute. It's not mainstream. It's not "normal." It's not backed by the science of our day.

To even consider accepting some methods of natural healing, you must have an open-mind. You must be willing to admit that there is a possibility that what you have been taught or what you hold to be correct is not necessarily the absolute or only truth. You must walk away from the crowd and become an individual -- determining the truth for yourself.

Balancing Open-Mindedness With WisdomSo let's say you are an open-minded individual and willing to believe anything that is thrown your way. Let's say the latest "health craze" is that pink spotted elephant skin when taken in powdered form and added to green smoothies will cure cancer and double your life span. Sounds great! And you're open-minded... so you absorb this as truth regardless of the fact that you also know that neither you nor anyone else in the world has ever seen a pink spotted elephant. Does this mean that pink spotted elephants don't exist somewhere? No. Does this mean that the skin of a pink spotted elephant doesn't cure cancer? No.

But it does mean that you should be extremely skeptical of anyone selling a bottle of pink elephant skin powder, and you should do serious research before you EVER spend money on it and even CONSIDER putting it in your body.

And that is where wisdom fits in. Wisdom, discernment and good judgment -- use these. Be open to possibilities but be discerning. Discern for yourself.

Do not simply accept the findings of one study at face value. Dig deeper. What organization funded the study? What would that organization have to lose if the findings of the study were the opposite?

Be discerning. Be wise. Have common sense. Don't accept everything you read. Don't think you should take every supplement that Dr. Oz recommends. Be wise. Listen to your body. Understand the balance of open-mindedness and wisdom.

Are You a Sponge, a Brick Wall or a Filter?So when it comes to natural health, it's especially important to be open-minded with wisdom and discernment.

You don't want to be a sponge -- absorbing every drop of information with no discernment. There are things out there that are dangerous if used without caution, and there are some things that are simply snake oil -- nothing more than a con. So to be open-minded without being discerning in these cases is at worst deadly and at best a waste of money.

But you also don't want to be a brick wall and let everything bounce off of you that doesn't conform to your preconceived worldview. There are things out there that can bring you to a place of wellness you never thought possible -- things that can bring you healing when Western medicine is ineffective and says there's no hope. But if you immediately reject these things as "hooey", you will never know. You will never grow. And you may never get well. You will stay right where you are.

Be a filter.Test the integrity of information that comes your way. Leave the garbage behind, but by all means allow the good to come through.

As I've said before, this is a journey. One day you may be convinced that you've found the fountain of wellness and want to share it with the world, and the next day you won't understand how you were ever so naive.

Tomorrow you will embrace the things you mock today. Be open-minded. Be wise. Be willing to be wrong. Be willing to change.

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Who is SHE?

I'm just a girl who loves the abstract, the colorful, the mysterious and the impossible.My favorite thing in this life is having a fella with whom I can be unashamedly gross and silly and in the next moment discuss the philosophy and physics of the universe. I also love pumpkins, the color orange, trees, autumn leaves, the writings of Soren Kierkegaard, creative endeavors of all kinds, and the beauty, wonder & healing power of nature.